Chrysanthemum plant named ‘PPP ALUG 09’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct  Chrysanthemum  plant cultivar is disclosed, characterized by large decorative type inflorescences with white ray florets and a creamy yellow center, consistent flowering response to short days, blooming consistently after 49 days of short day length, free branching habit, and a consistent natural season flowering habit during the third week of September.

Latin name of the genus and species Chrysanthemum morifolium.

Variety denomination: ‘PPP ALUG 09’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The new cultivar ‘PPP ALUG 09’ is a product of a cross between the maleparent ‘PPP ALB WH06’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 19,268) and the female parent‘Dark Veria’ (U.S Plant Pat. No. 10,215). The new cultivar wasdiscovered and selected by Dirk Pieters in September of 2008 in agreenhouse in Oostnieuwkerke, Belgium.

Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar ‘PPP ALUG 09’ by terminalcuttings was performed in Oostnieuwkerke, Belgium and Oxnard, Calif.,and has shown that the unique features of this new cultivar are stableand reproduced true to type on successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The cultivar ‘PPP ALUG 09’ has not been observed under all possibleenvironmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat withvariations in environment such as temperature, daylength, and lightintensity, without, however, any variance in genotype. The followingtraits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the uniquecharacteristics of ‘PPP ALUG 09.’ These characteristics in combinationdistinguish ‘PPP ALUG 09’ as a new and distinct Chrysanthemum cultivar:

-   -   1. Large, white, decorative-type inflorescences with a pale        yellow center;    -   2. Consistent natural season flowering habit during the third        week of September;    -   3. Free branching habit; and    -   4. Consistent flowering response to short days, blooming        consistently after 49 days of short day length.

Plants of the new cultivar ‘PPP ALUG 09’ are similar to plants of themale parent variety, ‘PPP ALB WH06’ in most horticulturalcharacteristics; however plants of the new cultivar ‘PPP ALUG 09’ aresmaller in both height and plant spread. Additionally, the male parenthas longer inflorescence longevity. Finally, the inflorescences of ‘PPPALUG 09’ have a pale yellow center compared to the creamy white centerof the male parent.

Plants of the new cultivar ‘PPP ALUG 09’ are similar to plants of thefemale parent variety, ‘Dark Veria’ in most horticulturalcharacteristics, however plants of the new cultivar ‘PPP ALUG 09’ aretaller and wider in both height and plant spread. Also, the femaleparent has a wider inflorescence diameter and more inflorescences perlateral branch. Additionally, the ray florets of ‘PPP ALUG 09’ are whitecompared to the yellow ray florets of the female parent. Finally, ‘PPPALUG 09’ naturally blooms three weeks earlier than the female parent.

In comparison to the commercially available variety ‘GEDI THREE MIL’(U.S. Plant Pat. No. 16,843), ‘PPP ALUG 09’ is smaller in both heightand plant spread. Additionally, the new variety ‘PPP ALUG 09’ has asmaller inflorescence diameter and brighter white ray florets. Finally,the comparable variety ‘GEM THREE MIL’ has more inflorescences perlateral branch.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPH

The accompanying photograph in the drawing illustrates in full color atypical plant of ‘PPP ALUG 09’ grown in a 2 gallon container. Onecutting was used in the pot, planted mid May and grown under outdoorfield conditions. The colors are as nearly true as is reasonablypossible in a color representation of this type.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

In the following description, color references are made to The RoyalHorticultural Society Colour Chart except where general terms ofordinary dictionary significance are used. The following observationsand measurements describe ‘PPP ALUG 09’ plants grown in Oxnard, VenturaCounty, Calif., during the months of May through October 2006.

The growing temperature ranged from 12° C. to 15° C. at night to 12° C.to 20° C. during the day. Measurements and numerical values representaverages of typical flowering types.

-   Botanical classification: Chrysanthemum morifolium ‘PPP ALUG 09’.-   Commercial classification: Garden-type Chrysanthemum.

PROPAGATION

-   Time to rooting: 7 to 14 days at approximately 21° C.-   Root description: Fine, fibrous.

PLANT

-   Growth habit: Mounding herbaceous perennial.-   Height: Approximately 18 cm.-   Plant spread: Approximately 30 cm.-   Growth rate: Moderate.-   Branching characteristics: Free branching.-   Length of lateral branches: Approximately 14 cm.-   Diameter of lateral branches: About 4.6 mm.-   Color of lateral branches: Near Yellow Green 147B.-   Number of leaves per lateral branch: Approximately 22.-   Age of plant described: Approximately 138 days.

FOLIAGE

-   Leaf:    -   -   Arrangement.—Alternate single.        -   Average length.—Approximately 5.1 cm.        -   Average width.—Approximately 4.6 cm.        -   Shape of blade.—Ovate.        -   Apex.—Acuminate.        -   Base.—Attenuate.        -   Attachment.—Stalked.        -   Margin.—Serrate.        -   Disc diameter.—Approximately 1.1 cm.        -   Receptacle height.—About 5 mm.        -   Receptacle diameter.—About 4 mm.        -   Fragrance.—None.        -   Texture of top surface.—Lightly pubescent.        -   Texture of bottom surface.—Lightly pubescent.        -   Leaf internode length.—Approximately 0.6 cm.        -   Color.—Young foliage upper side: Near Yellow-Green 147A.            Young foliage under side: Near Yellow-Green 147B. Mature            foliage upper side: Near Yellow-Green 147A. Mature foliage            under side: Near Yellow-Green 147B.        -   Venation.—Type: Palmately net. Venation color upper side:            Near Green 138B. Venation color under side: Near Green 138B.-   Petiole:    -   -   Average length.—Approximately 1.3 cm.        -   Color.—Near Green 138A.        -   Diameter.—Approximately 0.3 cm.

BLOOM

-   Inflorescence:    -   -   Flowering habit.—Induced by darkness period greater than            13.5 hours, approximately 49 days of appropriate day length            required to induce and develop blooms.        -   Inflorescence form.—Decorative.        -   Natural flowering season.—Approximately the third week in            September.        -   Number of inflorescences per lateral branch.—Approximately            14.        -   Inflorescence diameter.—Approximately 5.3 cm.        -   Inflorescence depth.—Approximately 1.2 cm.        -   Inflorescence longevity on plant.—Approximately 26 to 30            days.        -   Persistence.—Persistent.-   Ray florets:    -   -   Appearance.—Matte.        -   Texture (both surfaces).—Smooth.        -   Average number of ray florets per inflorescence.—200.        -   Shape.—Oblanceolate.        -   Aspect.—Flat.        -   Margin.—Entire.        -   Apex.—Obtuse.        -   Base.—Attenuate.        -   Length.—Approximately 1.5 cm.        -   Width.—Approximately 0.4 cm.        -   Color.—Upper surface at first opening: Near Yellow-White            158A. Upper surface at maturity: Near White 155B. Upper            surface at fading: Near White 155D. Under surface at first            opening: Near Yellow-White 158A. Under surface at maturity:            Near White 155B. Under surface at fading: Near White 155D.-   Disc florets:    -   -   Appearance.—Shiny.        -   Texture.—Smooth.        -   Average number of florets per disc.—Approximately 30.        -   Shape.—Cylindric.        -   Apex.—Obtuse.        -   Average length.—Approximately 0.3 cm.        -   Average width.—Approximately 0.1 cm.        -   Color.—At first opening: Near Yellow-Green 154D. At            maturity: Near Yellow 10C. At fading: Near Yellow 10D.-   Peduncle:    -   -   Length.—At terminal end (shortest): Approximately 3.3 cm. At            lateral end (longest): Approximately 6.4 cm.        -   Angle to stem.—Acute.        -   Strength.—Moderate.        -   Color.—Near Green 138A.        -   Habit.—Upright.        -   Diameter.—Approximately 0.2 cm.        -   Surface texture.—Lightly pubescent.-   Inflorescence bud:    -   -   Length.—Approximately 0.5 cm.        -   Diameter.—Approximately 0.5 cm.        -   Form.—Globular.        -   Color.—Near Yellow-White 158A.-   Involucral bracts (phyllaries):    -   -   Appearance.—Matte.        -   Texture.—Lightly pubescent.        -   Number.—Approximately 23.        -   Shape.—Lanceolate.        -   Margin.—Entire.        -   Apex.—Obtuse.        -   Length.—Approximately 0.4 cm.        -   Width.—Approximately 0.2 cm.        -   Color.—Upper side: Near Green 137B. Under side: Near Green            137C.

REPRODUCTIVE ORGANS

-   Ray florets: Number of pistils per floret: 1. Stigma shape: 2    branched. Stigma color: Near Yellow 9C. Style color: Near    Green-Yellow 1C. Style length: Approximately 0.2 cm. Stamens:    Absent.-   Disc florets: Number of pistils per floret: 1. Stigma shape:    Cylindric. Stigma color: Near Yellow 9A. Style length: Approximately    0.2 cm. Style color: Near Green-Yellow 1C. Number of stamens per    floret: Approximately 5. Anther shape: Tubular. Anther color: Near    Yellow 9C. Pollen color: No pollen detected.

OTHER CHARACTERISTICS

-   Disease resistance: Neither resistance nor susceptibility to    diseases or pests has been observed in this variety.-   Drought tolerance/cold tolerance: Flowering plants are hardy to low    temperatures about −2° C. Non-flowering plants are hardy in the    approximate range of 3° C. to −6° C., depending upon duration of    cold and amount of moisture in the soil. With adequate water plants    are hardy to a high temperature of 45° C.-   Fruit/seed production: Commercially, this plant is not used or    observed in a stage where seeds would be produced. Therefore, seed    production has not been observed.

1. A new and distinct cultivar of Chrysanthemum plant named ‘PPP ALUG09’ as herein illustrated and described.